Mohammed Lawal Shuaibu
24 June 2008
The Federal Government has been dragged before an Abuja Federal High Court by 110 indigenous contractors handling the construction of 774 health centres across the country for revoking the contract.
The contractors also brought Mathan Nigerian Limited, the major contractor in the projects, into the case for breach of contract.
They are seeking an order of the court compelling the government to rescind its decision and make an upward review of the contract sum.
They base their demands on the high cost of building materials and the delay in the completion of the project occasioned by the directive of the government.
While filing the suit, the chairman of the contractors, Chief Okey Ikoro, said that the project would have been completed to specifications and with the approved sum if the government did not order its revocation.
"The directive by the National Economic Council in December last year revoking the contract was a cog in the wheel of progress.
The administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo had approved the project for all the 774 local government councils to improve access to health at the grassroots.
The project was to be completed in six months while payment was to be made in ten instalments.
The National Economic Council (NEC) under President Umaru Yar'Adua's administration, revoked the contract on Dec. 10, 2007.
The defendants to the suit are, NEC, Attorney General of the Federation and Mathan Nigeria Ltd.
They contended that the revocation of the contract was unconstitutional, null and void and a violation of their rights.
In the affidavits supporting the suit, the plaintiffs said that the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), in February 2006, entered into an agreement with Mathan for the construction and equipping of the health centres.
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Since this matter is already in the court,we cannot make much comment until the defendants post their deffense.It may be one of the contracts that linger from one administration to the other like our road contracts. Mazianyaogu
This is part of the effects of the TRIBALISM controlled polity. With health services in Nigeria being one of the most deplorable in the world, the administration of President Yar'Adua cancelled the construction of health centres across the country to make health services still worse for the common people in the country. With the health services in shambles, the President and the other political leaders get their health services overseas. To these political leaders, the common people do not need better health services as demonstrated by the action of the administration. WHAT A FANTASTIC LEADERSHIP!